What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease of cells in the body. When cells grow abnormally or in an uncontrolled manner, they can form tumours and spread throughout the body.
How does childhood cancer differ from adult cancer?
Cancer in both children and adults are often caused by genetic alterations, but environmental stresses and lifestyle choices can increase the likelihood of cancer in adults.
Unlike some adult cancers, most childhood cancers are nearly impossible to predict. This makes it difficult to put preventative measures in place to stop or slow the disease. Some cancers like leukaemia and lymphoma have similarities in adults and children, but others like neuroblastoma and sarcoma predominantly affect children and young adults.
The most common types of cancer diagnosed in children ages 0-14 are leukaemia, brain cancer and lymphoma.
According to the Cancer Council, an estimated 760 children aged 0-14 years old will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
Stages of Cancer
Upon diagnosis, cancers are attributed a stage, depending on how far the cancer has grown and spread at that time.